Submarine-supply.



P. L. E. DEL FUNGA-GIERA. SUBMARINE SUVPPLY. APPLICATION FILED AUG-28.191s.

1.,Q0,25h Patented Mar. 27,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W/TNfSSESI INI/EIVTOR :ATTORIVEY' P. L. L DEL FUNGA-GI E RA, SUBMARINESUPPLY. APPLICATION FILED AUG-28.1916,

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES I v INVENTOR ATTORNEY m: umus FETERS cu, Pnam-mna. wnsmuc ran.a. c.

IPHILIPPO L. 'E. DEL FUNGA-GIERA, OF NEW YORK, Y.

SUBMAIRINE-SUPPLY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2'7, 1917.

Application filed August 28, 1916. Serial No. 117,196.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIPPO L. E. DEL FUNGA-GIERA, a citizen of theRepublic of Switzerland, and a resident of the city of New York, boroughof Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have in vented a newand Improved Submarine- Supply, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

My invention relates to a new system of carrying such auxiliary suppliesas is necessary for the proper maintenance of submarine vessels or othersurface or undersea craft, and is characterized by a tank or tanksconstituting a container or containers so equipped as to permit of thesupplies being removed at will at the surface, and having anchoringmeans whereby the containers may be positioned in convenient localities.

The apparatus is characterized also by an internal arrangement whereby acontainer or magazine may be caused to, rise to the surface or to belowered in the water to any desired submergence to maintain it out ofsight or out of range.

The invention involves also a novel marking buoy floating on the surfaceand dis guised in practice, the cable of the buoy being arranged for theconnection with a source of electric power on the boat so thatconnection may be made with an electric motor in the tank or magazinefor the winding and unwinding of the anchoring cable in effecting theraising and lowering of the magazine.

Other distinctive features of the invention as well as the constructionand operation will appear as the description proceeds.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification in which similar reference characters indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a central vertlcal section on the line 1-1, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention given as one examplethereof, the shell 1 "of the container is in practice of standard marineconstruction, divided into any number of compartments for containinglubricating and fuel oils, food, water, tools, machinery, and extraparts. In the present instance a single vertical partition 2 divides thecontainer or magazine into two compartments. Several manholes indicatedat 3 are provided to afford access to the compartments.

The numeral 5 indicates a fin projecting laterally and rangingvertically at the exterior of the shell 1 and properly fastened thereto,to prevent the rotation of the container. The fin 5 also has a functionin preventing the container from the twisting off of the cable 6 whichis connected with an anchor 7. The anchor is in the form of a cast ironweight and is provided with a reversed, mushroom-shaped, steel disk 8presenting a concavo-convex annular rim portion and a central suctioncup 8 at the under side. Thus a suction will be created at the underside of the shell to increase the holding effect of the anchorwhile theadded weight of the disk is availed.

The cable 6 winds on a drum 10 within the container and may be payedout. through the lower tapered end thereof. To actuate the drum the sameis geared to an electric motor 9 which in practice is compound wound andequipped with a starting, braking, and controlling attachment to operate"the drum 10 in either direction, whereby to lower the tank to anydesired degree of submergence or to permit. the same to rise to thesurface.

A marking buoy 11 disguised with seaweed, kelp, etc, is connected by anarmored cable 12 with the motor 9 and has a suitable cap ll wherebyconnection may be established between the cable and a source of electricpower on the boat to be supplied.

The numeral 13 indicates a periscope which in practice is of thecollapsible type. The provision of the periscope allows of the temporaryoccupation of the tank or magazine by human beings and allows ofobservations being taken during submergence. In operation, a submarineor other marine vesse]. having located the marking buoy according tonautical charts, the buoy cap may be removed and connection made betweenthe electric power on the vessel and the electric cable 12 leading tothe motor and by actuating the latter, the drum is turned, and therebyreleasing the magazine and permitting it to rise to the surface of thewater as the mooring cable is payed out. The magazine having beenraised, access may be had to the different compartments through themanholes 3. Upon the necessary supplies having been taken from themagazine, the electric power of the submarine is again caused to operatethe motor 9 and by rewinding'the mooring cable the magazine is submergedto any desired depth. The buoy 11 is then disconnected and the crewagain decoys or masks the buoy so that it will be invisible to any onenot knowing the nautical location.

The particular character of the anchor gives a mooring capacityto holdthe tank or magazine underany conditions of weather or water in anydesired location, the weight,

the suction cup and'the sand receiving rim 7 all contributing to theholding action. 7

Suitable valve inlets t may be provided the top to serve variouspurposes. Having thus described my invention I claim as new,fand desireto secure by Letters Patent:

1. A submersible container, comprising a casing having a cylindricalupper portion and a conical lower portion, a horizontal partitiondividing said casing into upper and lower compartments, a verticalpartition sub-dividing said upper compartment, a horizontal partitionsub-dividing said lower compartment into a motor chamber and a waterchamber, an anchor, a cable leading therefrom to said motor chamber,

and means in said motor chamber for ad- Gopies of this patent may beobtained for 2. A submersible container, comprising a casing having acylindrical upper portion and a conical lower portion, a horizontalpartition dividing said casing into upper and lower compartments, avertical partition sub-dividing said upper compartment into storage andhabitable chambers, a periscope extending from said habitable chamher, ahorizontal'partition sub-dividing said lower compartment into a motorchamber and a water chamber, an anchor, a cable leading therefrom tosaid motor chamber, and means in said motor chamber for adjusting thelength of said cable to control the degree of submergence of saidcontainer.

3. A submersible container, comprising a casing having a cylindricalupper portion and a conical lower portion, a horizontal partitiondividing said easing into upper and lower compartments, a horizontalpartition dividing said lower motor and water chambers, a bell-shapedbracing and water resisting partition in said water chamber, an anchor,a cable leading therefrom to said motor chamber, and means in said motorchamber for adjusting the length of said cable to control the degree ofsubmergence of said container.

PHILIPPO L. E. DEL FUNGA-GIERA.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). C.

compartment into.

